Page 47 of Cold Foot King
“It sure is. This is why we brought all of you out here. Look.” Timber pointed to a trio of large tents in the clearing. They were white, the same color as the snow, and blended into the surroundings, but they had clear, dome-shaped tops. They were northern-lights viewing tents.
“We get to stay here?”
“We’re about to freeze our tits off,” Timber joked, “but yeah, we’re staying the night here.”
“Whaaat the heck is happening to my life right now?” Raynah whispered. She’d been holding the closed pocketknife clutched in her hand the entire trip, and her bright-green eyes were so wide as she stared at the layer of bright, beautiful green in the sky.
“This was on my bucket list,” Timber said softly. “Wreck said as a reward for me saying yes to building a Crew with him, he would make sure we saw the northern lights while we were here gathering all of you.”
Katrina saw movement from the yellow people-mover that had parked just slightly diagonal from them. It was Wreck. He was climbing out of his vehicle, eyes on theirs.
“Timber,” Katrina murmured. “Your mate.”
Timber cast her attention to the phoenix, and Katrina could see it so clearly—the love between them. It dumped warmth into her middle, and it wasn’t even her love story.
She had a moment of guilt as she thought of all the slander the Holland Pride had preached against them. Her Pride had stolen Timber. Stolen Riyah. Hurt them. And the phoenix had burned them to ashes. Rightly so. Katrina was getting a deep look into the other side, and whooo, she’d been wrong. They all had.
The next one to climb out of the yellow rig was King. He ducked under the door, and his eyes lit right on the blue rig. He was looking for Katrina—she knew it. She’d missed him too.
“Can we get out?” she asked.
“Yeah. Jackets though. It’s cold,” Timber said, and they fumbled to put on the warm gear they’d shed over the long trip.
She was still zipping up her thick winter jacket as they hopped off the snow tracks.
King was coming toward her, his strides long and powerful.
“Did you get my text?” he asked as he hugged her up.
“No, I haven’t even looked at the phone.”
“I’m so happy for you. I was shocked because you hadn’t told me, and it felt big, but I should’ve celebrated for you. Fuck yeah, Kat,” he said, pushing her back to arm’s length so he could look her in the eyes. He shook her gently and smiled. “You did it.”
She shrugged. “Silver and Timber did it. I’m just along for the ride.”
“It’s a helluva ride. You’re going to be under the protection of Wreck Itall. Who the hell can ever mess with you again?” he asked, turning her beside him and draping his arm over her shoulders. “Tomorrow is gonna hold what tomorrow holds, but tonight? Look at that show in the sky.”
The others were gathering close too, filing out of the yellow people-mover, and if there was any talking, it was hushed and quiet.
“I wish I had a camera,” she said low.
“The pictures wouldn’t do this justice.”
“Not for the sky. I would take a selfie of us with it behind us.”
“Here,” Timber said, lifting up her phone. “Go ten feet back. Keep going. Okay, stop.”
Katrina pulled her beanie lower, fluffed her hair in front of her shoulders, and rested her hand on King’s chest as he pulled her close. She grinned up at him, and then smiled at the camera when Timber counted to three.
“Perfect,” Timber said, looking at the picture.
“Want me to take one of you and Wreck?” Katrina asked, knowing he’d done this all for her.
“Yeah! Would you?”
“Absolutely.” Katrina left King’s side, but didn’t miss how he held her hand and put off letting her go. There was a hand squeeze before her fingers slipped out of his.
She’d never had butterflies before. She’d read all about them in books, but she’d never experienced them for herself. Now, she realized King had been giving her butterflies all along. That fluttering sensation in her chest was it. She was living a part of a story she’d always envied.